I know day after day I harp preach encourage you to properly link your lenses so you can get ranked in the search engines and get traffic and make sales.
I’ll be straight up with you here… I suck at linking. I hate it. I find it super tedious and BOORING. I have recently picked up an additional accountability partner to really kick my butt on linking and staying focused on one element of my business.
With the knowledge I would have to face him at the end of the week and tell him if I did or didn’t do… I decided to make a spreadsheet. 
You know how much I love to check stuff off.
Here’s what I found… (and it surprised the heck out of me)
I haven’t been doing half the linking I think I thought I was doing. YIKES.
I had general terms on my spread sheet, free ad blogs, wp blogs (my own network I use for linking) etc. I found I quickly became confused by what I had and hadn’t done for each keyword I was working on, and quickly realized I generally quit this linking process long before it is actually complete. HMMMM…
I changed my spreadsheet, and added each specific site I link at so I can make sure I have linked for each keyword/lens. This has helped the confusion and it really made me realize how much I haven’t been actually getting done.
So my guess is, and this is just a guess, if I ain’t doing it, neither are you. Which just might explain why some of my lenses don’t rank ~ and yours as well.
I have this crazy brain that says “If I don’t do it, it’s cheating” which thus far has really eliminated me using any kind of automation.
Since I’m doing more and trying to spend less time I’ve realized I have to let go of that. If a tool can do a bunch of the things I’m doing ~ exactly how I’m doing it ~ except by itself without me ~ well DAMN ~ let it do it!
Here’s what I’m talking about.
This software does the RSS submission, directory submission, bookmarking submission, pings, and more. These are all things I would do if I could get my stuff together and actually do it, I do currently submit to RSS directories, but look at all the additional links I am now getting by letting it do it for me!
Anyway, I thought this software would be super expensive, but it’s not. It’s very affordable and actually gets the job done. I still do my own linking through other sources, but this is where I start now. The machine doesn’t get bored. It doesn’t give up half way through because it doesn’t feel like doing it anymore. It gets it done, over time, nice and slow and steady ~ just like I like it.
If you are having trouble getting your linking done I highly suggest you try traffic bug for at least 2 months. It will take time for all the links to get created, and even a little longer for Google to find them all, but it will happen. With the level of competition we use for Squidoo lenses it shouldn’t take much more than traffic bug to get your lenses ranking.
Just so you can see exactly what I’m doing (and I’m still doing a lot of doing) here’s my linking spreadsheet. (it is an excel spreadsheet. You’ll need excel to open it) It’s exactly what’s printed out and on my desk right now ~ today’s my Squidoo day so I’ll be linking my brains out. If you want to have the boxes printed out so you can make your checks inside boxes here’s the instructions.
I spent an entire day a month or so ago going through and researching every link building process I could find. Traffic bug fit all my requirements and was about 90% cheaper than the next closest option. This is a new site, but it is working quite well thus far. I know for a fact the price will be increased, so if linking software is something you’ve been thinking about I suggest you get it now while it’s still very affordable ~ it probably won’t be for long.
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HI Jackie,
I can not open your linking spreadsheet, can you help? thank you
it’s an open office document. Here it is in excel format hopefully that will work for you.
Jackie – could you explain exactly what Traffic Bug takes the place of? Is it the backlinking that we are doing on other blogs or commentluv sites? We would still be doing the article submission correct? Just curious.
Jane ~ MoneyMom
Jane´s last blog ..Nostalgic Candy Baskets updated Thu Jul 15 2010 4-19 pm CDT
I am not currently doing any article submissions.
It takes the place of RSS submission, it does bookmarking, it submits to directories.
I’m currently testing it to see if it will be enough of the right kind of links to let me stop doing some of the other things I’m doing and use this method instead.
It’s probably MORE beneficial for niche sites, but with the low level of competition on lenses I’m willing to test it out and see if it will be enough.
oh did you mean at the free ad blogs? I am doing that, but I’m not writing articles to submit to article directories like EZA right now. Which doesn’t mean you can’t, just means I’m not.
So, this would take the place of all the backlinking with commentluv or keyword luv sites AND the RSS feeds, right.
Then we can concentrate on the freead blogs and on to the next lens, correct? I’m trying to weight what kind of time this would save me, so I want to understand correctly what it will do for me.
Jane ~ MoneyMom
Jane´s last blog ..Nostalgic Candy Baskets updated Thu Jul 15 2010 4-19 pm CDT
Probably. I haven’t been using it long enough to say for positive. I am thinking that it will.
You know, Jackie I had used Traffic Bug for several months and really liked it. I just wasn’t certain of its effectiveness, but I think they have vastly improved the software and based upon your recommendation, I’ll think I’ll go back to it. It is a lot cheaper than outsourcing linkbuilding for $75.00 a week.
Kristie´s last blog ..Car On Water Kit Reviews
This may sound bad, but it’s actually encouraging that you HAVEN’T been doing your linking to it’s full potential. I say this because even doing it half-assed, so to speak
, you have STILL been quite successful and making money.
Even better….since you now realize that you could be more proactive and organized with you linking…..you should be even MORE successful and make even MORE money than you already are.
This is GOOD NEWS!
This also means that there is hope for the rest of us “slackers”…lol
We all can realize that all of us…..even you….fall short on some of these tasks and stop beating ourselves up and just DO BETTER.
Thanks for this post. I think many of us think you are superwoman and I feel better knowing you are not.
Do give yourself a break though. You spend ENORMOUS amounts of time helping other people. Your lack of linking wasn’t really a “slacker” issue. I was kidding. I’m sure most of us are just overwhelmed and not necessarily slacking and YES linking is one of those hated, tedious, bigger than life tasks. It’s like trying to swallow a frog….not that I ever actually swallowed a real life frog….gross.
Is the current price a one time fee or a monthly recurring fee? Just want to be sure.
It’s a monthly fee, which I’m sure will go up soon. The next best option is probably senuke and the lite version (which doesn’t do much) is 67 a month ~ the full version is like 147 or something a month. With the plans they have for this site I am glad to get in now while the price is low so I can keep that low price when someday it is 97 a month.
I didn’t get in on market samurai when I should have and now it’s over 100 bucks lol
HI Jackie,
I had to comment here, as when I see what you do regarding backlinking, I realize I am simply not doing enough, and certainly am not accountable, so I will use your excel sheet to take care of that.
I will check out traffic bug, I use IM Automator now and really like it.
I had a lens review with you a while back, and you made some great comments on my lens, and said to get more links! It is so boring, it really can be a struggle, but otherwise your hard work goes unnoticed and down the drain.
Also, I still use squidoo, but I now build my own sites. I had never considered using one site, like your blogger blog idea, to act as a ‘catch-all’ linking site. It really is a great idea, and could be used on lots of platforms, even squidoo, especially if you are in one type of niche.
Many people advocate building Web 2.0 properties as links for your niche sites, but buiding a few web 2.0 sites for every niche site is overwhelming without some expensive automated software.
You have just made my day with the idea of using a few web 2.0 sites and updating regularly as you build, I really do appreciate your blog and advice,
Thanks,
Jen
Jackie – I think I’m going to have to give this a try! Backlinking is my Achillie’s heel – I don’t like it so I don’t do it. Thanks! ~Julie
I went through all my product lenses today ~ checked their rankings and will keep an eye on them since putting them through ~ understanding that it takes time for this whole thing to work.
I’ll let you know what I see though.
Jackie, I tried to sign up for Traffic Bug, and had a glitch. Then I Googled it and read 3 pages of a Warrior forum post where most people said it was of little to no benefit. Don’t print this comment obviously if you really endorse the product, but if you are just starting with it, you may not see the results you want.
I am leery of paying for this since I couldn’t complete my sign up and then read this thread:
http://www.warriorforum.com/internet-marketing-product-reviews-ratings/110417-anyone-using-traffic-bug.html
Have you seen appreciable improvements on your sites with this? If so, then I will reconsider.
Lisa @ Strathwood Fire Pit´s last blog ..Strathwood Fire Pit updated Sat Aug 14 2010 10-09 am CDT
IF you read the first couple posts on that thread I think it’s all you need to know. It’s in beta still ~ yes. It’s being recommended for the challenge by Ed Dale. He has thousands and thousands of newbies and not so newbies do the challenge every year. Everything he has ever recommended that I’ve used has been spot on. That’s why I decided to try it. I didn’t read the whole thread because I personally feel the warrior forum is crap.
It is filled mostly with people who have no idea what they are doing and don’t get results they are looking for immediately and jump into a bunch of hating. Like I said I didn’t read the whole thing but I don’t have to… I can almost tell you word for word what it will say.
Everyone is welcome to read the thread, and make a decision for themselves and their business. I suggest they take a look at the Challenge and see why people who are VERY successful like Ed are choosing TO use it, and not necessarily base decisions on comments made by you don’t really know who ~ on the warrior forum.
I’m testing traffic bug for myself and we’ll see what comes of it ~ if Ed Dale is recommending ~ I’m willing to risk the cash for a while. Like the first person said, I think it’s going to be great for things like squidoo.
But where you spend your money is something only you can decide for your business.
Thank you for your honesty.
Lisa @ Strathwood Fire Pit´s last blog ..Strathwood Fire Pit updated Sat Aug 14 2010 10-09 am CDT
It’s actually encouraging to me to hear you say that you haven’t been getting all your linking done, because I was feeling like a loser about not getting mine done.
I actually followed your lead already from the forum, and signed up for Traffic Bug AND made a spreadsheet! I have TB, IMAutomater, Ezine, Other Articles, Profile Links and comment links as my headings.
For “other articles” I plan on using UAW when I start having more traffic flow, but right now, I plan on doing an ezine article first, which I’m writing using Instant Article Factory. Once it’s accepted in ezine, I can easily spin it with IAF and send it out to 5-10 other article directories.
Blogs comments and profile links will be my ‘go to’ will be for when something isn’t ranking as well as I’d like it do after doing all the other stuff – I’ve bookmarked a bunch of good do-follow blogs. I don’t like spamming people’s blogs, so I only do that when I have to.
Kelly @ Queen of Hearts Halloween´s last blog ..Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts Costume
sounds like a great plan ~ I did find (and it may just be me) that I got confused easily if I was working with more than one kw at a time/site making sure I got all the kw linked up at all the sites. So just keep that in mind.
I do too. I quit trying to do it all at once, and just go through and do one site/keyword at a time. It might not be as time efficient, but it’s a lot easier to wrap my brain around.
Kelly @ Queen of Hearts Halloween´s last blog ..Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts Costume
So do you use a separate spreadsheet for each lens or site?
Cathy´s last blog ..July Earnings and getting ready for Halloween
I use one spreadsheet for all my lenses ~ I just add new keywords to the spreadsheet as I go. I do make a separate one for niche sites if I’m targeting a bunch of kw for the site. Actually ~ right now I’m working on 2 sites a week (niche sites) and I put all the kw for both sites I’m working on on one spreadsheet. That just works for how I’m working right now ~ play around and see what works for you.
So you use UAW in conjunction with Traffic Bug? I’m trying to decide which is right for me.
Lisa @ Strathwood Fire Pit´s last blog ..Strathwood Fire Pit updated Sat Aug 14 2010 10-09 am CDT
I don’t use UAW in conjunction right now. I’m testing to see if traffic bug will be enough ~ which I think it will be. If I have to add something I’ll add UAW to the mix. I’d start with traffic bug ~ and add UAW later if you need to.